Purdue women's basketball needs to 'deliver better results' next season

Quote:

The 2019-20 season will carry a lot of weight about the future direction. Coach Sharon Versyp, who finished her 13th season, knows it. Athletic Director Mike Bobinski knows it.

“Coach Versyp and I had conversation shortly after the end of the season and I think it’s fair to say we both left the conversation with an understanding that we’re not in a place where we would like to be,” Bobinski recently told the Journal & Courier.

Purdue women's basketball needs to 'deliver better results' next season

Quote:

The 2019-20 season will carry a lot of weight about the future direction. Coach Sharon Versyp, who finished her 13th season, knows it. Athletic Director Mike Bobinski knows it.

“Coach Versyp and I had conversation shortly after the end of the season and I think it’s fair to say we both left the conversation with an understanding that we’re not in a place where we would like to be,” Bobinski recently told the Journal & Courier.

(*) - Savannah State will move to Division II starting with the 2019-20 season.

The name/school that jumps out on this list is Brandon Schneider at Kansas. How can a Power 5 school have such a bad overall record? You should be able to schedule 12 wins a year.

UC Santa Barbara and San Diego State are also outliers, it seems to me, as you should be able to recruit to both based on location alone.

Kansas is an interesting one. How are they having such a hard time building a women's hoops program in Lawrence? It feels like KU never gets the "good" recruits. How long does Schneider realistically have left?

Ironically, former coach Bonnie Hendrickson is not getting it done in Santa Barbara. That was such a winning program for all those years under Mark French (and perhaps just one factor why certain Pac-10 programs were struggling at the time...lots of Oregon/AZ/California talent went to UCSB instead).

San Diego State was always in the game with Beth Burns. Her two departures haven't seen the kind of follow-up success you'd expect. Mountain West has gotten tougher with Boise State and Fresno State in the mix, but the Aztecs have really fallen behind under Terry.

re: Purdue. They looked really good on TV the few times I saw them play. They just didn't have productive size or depth, so hopefully that will be addressed and they can win. Although I'm sure the Purdue fans are simply ready for a change in leadership.

UVM ought to be on this list. They haven’t had a winning season since Sharon Dawley left a decade ago, and promoting a losing AC to a losing IC to HC doesn’t look like a winning strategy to me. The AD seriously needs a kick in the *** to clean house.

Purdue women's basketball needs to 'deliver better results' next season

Quote:

The 2019-20 season will carry a lot of weight about the future direction. Coach Sharon Versyp, who finished her 13th season, knows it. Athletic Director Mike Bobinski knows it.

“Coach Versyp and I had conversation shortly after the end of the season and I think it’s fair to say we both left the conversation with an understanding that we’re not in a place where we would like to be,” Bobinski recently told the Journal & Courier.

Purdue women's basketball needs to 'deliver better results' next season

Quote:

The 2019-20 season will carry a lot of weight about the future direction. Coach Sharon Versyp, who finished her 13th season, knows it. Athletic Director Mike Bobinski knows it.

“Coach Versyp and I had conversation shortly after the end of the season and I think it’s fair to say we both left the conversation with an understanding that we’re not in a place where we would like to be,” Bobinski recently told the Journal & Courier.

Totally agree that Versyp has underperformed for quite a few years. Wondering what folks think about the hiring of Melanie Balcomb as an assistant. I know her highest success was a little while back now, but it seems like she could potentially bring some coaching help?

Purdue women's basketball needs to 'deliver better results' next season

Quote:

The 2019-20 season will carry a lot of weight about the future direction. Coach Sharon Versyp, who finished her 13th season, knows it. Athletic Director Mike Bobinski knows it.

“Coach Versyp and I had conversation shortly after the end of the season and I think it’s fair to say we both left the conversation with an understanding that we’re not in a place where we would like to be,” Bobinski recently told the Journal & Courier.

Totally agree that Versyp has underperformed for quite a few years. Wondering what folks think about the hiring of Melanie Balcomb as an assistant. I know her highest success was a little while back now, but it seems like she could potentially bring some coaching help?

Purdue women's basketball needs to 'deliver better results' next season

Quote:

The 2019-20 season will carry a lot of weight about the future direction. Coach Sharon Versyp, who finished her 13th season, knows it. Athletic Director Mike Bobinski knows it.

“Coach Versyp and I had conversation shortly after the end of the season and I think it’s fair to say we both left the conversation with an understanding that we’re not in a place where we would like to be,” Bobinski recently told the Journal & Courier.

Totally agree that Versyp has underperformed for quite a few years. Wondering what folks think about the hiring of Melanie Balcomb as an assistant. I know her highest success was a little while back now, but it seems like she could potentially bring some coaching help?

Balcomb is probably a better hire than your average assistant, and I appreciate the Versyp has gone out of her own tree (as it is) for the last couple of hires. That said, the problem is at the top and has been for years. Changing assistants feels a bit like rearranging chairs on the Titanic at this point.

As a reminder, Versyp has never had a players has recruited drafted. Versyp has never take a team of her own players to the Sweet 16.

UVM ought to be on this list. They haven’t had a winning season since Sharon Dawley left a decade ago, and promoting a losing AC to a losing IC to HC doesn’t look like a winning strategy to me. The AD seriously needs a kick in the *** to clean house.

I agree that the program has fallen of the rails from its position a decade ago. But since this thread is about coaches on the hot seat. I don't see how an interim coach that won more games than anybody at the school since 2010 and was given the full time gig as a result should be considered as on the hot seat. Indeed it seems that Alisa Kresge could be just what the program needs. She was an assistant at Marist for several years and it seems as if the Red Foxes have gone down a bit since she left. I don't know if there is any cause and effect there, but I would think that she might be someone who could build back the program.

Only 7 signees have been ranked in the top 50 of the ESPN/Hoopgulz/Dan Olson rankings (two others --- Samantha Woods in the HS Class of 2007 and Brittany Rayburn in the HS Class of 2008 --- were ranked 51st in their respective classes).

And yes, ESPN/Hoopgurlz/Dan Olson is only one such rating service -- and I believe it has been publishing the WBB HS player rankings since approximately 2007.

But, as a comparison, Purdue used to pull in players ranked in the top ten of Blue Star Report's and ASGR's respective rankings (Kelly Komara - 1998; Erica Valek - 2000; Cherrise Graham - 2000), as well as McDonald's All-Americans (Katie Gearlds - 2003; Erin Lawless - 2003).
*** Side note -- 2002 was the first year that a MCDAA game was held for girls HS basketball players.

As far as I can tell, in the 13 recruiting classes signed by Sharon Versyp, she has never had a McDonald's All-American player commit to her out of high school. The only MCDAA player who came into her program (not counting Gearlds and Lawless, whom she inherited) was Drey Mingo, who transferred from Maryland.

Versyp's best seasons (2006-07 and 2008-09, in which her teams made the Elite Eight both years) had the benefit of another coach's players in some part.

--- In the last 10 years, she has finished in the top three of the Big Ten once.
--- In the last 10 years, her teams have averaged 13 losses per season.
--- In the last five years, her teams have averaged 14.8 losses per season.
--- In 9 seasons as HC, Lin Dunn had a total of 68 losses (against 206 wins). In 7 seasons as HC, Kristy Curry had a total of 51 losses (against 179 wins). But in the last 4 years, Sharon Versyp has had 54 losses -- and 74 losses in the last 5 years.

The inability to sign elite talent (MCDAAs, top 25 players) -- or at least top 40/50 talent -- has led to a once-proud Purdue program and a contender on the national stage for the better part of 16 years before Versyp's arrival to mediocrity at best.

While Purdue returns its top five scorers from 2018-19, that team went 19-15 (8-10 in the Big Ten). I cannot see Versyp surviving another year, absent a top ten recruiting class nationally, a top-three Big Ten finish, and a Sweet 16 berth (or at least being given one of the top four seeds in a region).

Only 7 signees have been ranked in the top 50 of the ESPN/Hoopgulz/Dan Olson rankings (two others --- Samantha Woods in the HS Class of 2007 and Brittany Rayburn in the HS Class of 2008 --- were ranked 51st in their respective classes).

And yes, ESPN/Hoopgurlz/Dan Olson is only one such rating service -- and I believe it has been publishing the WBB HS player rankings since approximately 2007.

But, as a comparison, Purdue used to pull in players ranked in the top ten of Blue Star Report's and ASGR's respective rankings (Kelly Komara - 1998; Erica Valek - 2000; Cherrise Graham - 2000), as well as McDonald's All-Americans (Katie Gearlds - 2003; Erin Lawless - 2003).
*** Side note -- 2002 was the first year that a MCDAA game was held for girls HS basketball players.

As far as I can tell, in the 13 recruiting classes signed by Sharon Versyp, she has never had a McDonald's All-American player commit to her out of high school. The only MCDAA player who came into her program (not counting Gearlds and Lawless, whom she inherited) was Drey Mingo, who transferred from Maryland.

Versyp's best seasons (2006-07 and 2008-09, in which her teams made the Elite Eight both years) had the benefit of another coach's players in some part.

--- In the last 10 years, she has finished in the top three of the Big Ten once.
--- In the last 10 years, her teams have averaged 13 losses per season.
--- In the last five years, her teams have averaged 14.8 losses per season.
--- In 9 seasons as HC, Lin Dunn had a total of 68 losses (against 206 wins). In 7 seasons as HC, Kristy Curry had a total of 51 losses (against 179 wins). But in the last 4 years, Sharon Versyp has had 54 losses -- and 74 losses in the last 5 years.

The inability to sign elite talent (MCDAAs, top 25 players) -- or at least top 40/50 talent -- has led to a once-proud Purdue program and a contender on the national stage for the better part of 16 years before Versyp's arrival to mediocrity at best.

While Purdue returns its top five scorers from 2018-19, that team went 19-15 (8-10 in the Big Ten). I cannot see Versyp surviving another year, absent a top ten recruiting class nationally, a top-three Big Ten finish, and a Sweet 16 berth (or at least being given one of the top four seeds in a region).

One tough thing for Purdue, in regards to recruiting, is that in state prospect Skylar Diggins completely changed Muffet's program. Yes, she won a NC in 2001, but for a good ten years was really just a mediocre at best team. As a result, most of the best Indiana talent chose ND instead of Purdue. In the late 90's, early 2000's a lot of those top in state players went to Purdue. In addition, Louisville is probably poaching some of the areas that Louisville might've had success in too.

Only 7 signees have been ranked in the top 50 of the ESPN/Hoopgulz/Dan Olson rankings (two others --- Samantha Woods in the HS Class of 2007 and Brittany Rayburn in the HS Class of 2008 --- were ranked 51st in their respective classes).

And yes, ESPN/Hoopgurlz/Dan Olson is only one such rating service -- and I believe it has been publishing the WBB HS player rankings since approximately 2007.

But, as a comparison, Purdue used to pull in players ranked in the top ten of Blue Star Report's and ASGR's respective rankings (Kelly Komara - 1998; Erica Valek - 2000; Cherrise Graham - 2000), as well as McDonald's All-Americans (Katie Gearlds - 2003; Erin Lawless - 2003).
*** Side note -- 2002 was the first year that a MCDAA game was held for girls HS basketball players.

As far as I can tell, in the 13 recruiting classes signed by Sharon Versyp, she has never had a McDonald's All-American player commit to her out of high school. The only MCDAA player who came into her program (not counting Gearlds and Lawless, whom she inherited) was Drey Mingo, who transferred from Maryland.

Versyp's best seasons (2006-07 and 2008-09, in which her teams made the Elite Eight both years) had the benefit of another coach's players in some part.

--- In the last 10 years, she has finished in the top three of the Big Ten once.
--- In the last 10 years, her teams have averaged 13 losses per season.
--- In the last five years, her teams have averaged 14.8 losses per season.
--- In 9 seasons as HC, Lin Dunn had a total of 68 losses (against 206 wins). In 7 seasons as HC, Kristy Curry had a total of 51 losses (against 179 wins). But in the last 4 years, Sharon Versyp has had 54 losses -- and 74 losses in the last 5 years.

The inability to sign elite talent (MCDAAs, top 25 players) -- or at least top 40/50 talent -- has led to a once-proud Purdue program and a contender on the national stage for the better part of 16 years before Versyp's arrival to mediocrity at best.

While Purdue returns its top five scorers from 2018-19, that team went 19-15 (8-10 in the Big Ten). I cannot see Versyp surviving another year, absent a top ten recruiting class nationally, a top-three Big Ten finish, and a Sweet 16 berth (or at least being given one of the top four seeds in a region).

One tough thing for Purdue, in regards to recruiting, is that in state prospect Skylar Diggins completely changed Muffet's program. Yes, she won a NC in 2001, but for a good ten years was really just a mediocre at best team. As a result, most of the best Indiana talent chose ND instead of Purdue. In the late 90's, early 2000's a lot of those top in state players went to Purdue. In addition, Louisville is probably poaching some of the areas that Louisville might've had success in too.

But Diggins impact at Notre Dame coincides with Versyp killing Purdue. Neither should be seen as taking place in a vacuum - Purdue's fall has helped ND as much as ND's rise has hurt Purdue. Maybe more.

Only 7 signees have been ranked in the top 50 of the ESPN/Hoopgulz/Dan Olson rankings (two others --- Samantha Woods in the HS Class of 2007 and Brittany Rayburn in the HS Class of 2008 --- were ranked 51st in their respective classes).

And yes, ESPN/Hoopgurlz/Dan Olson is only one such rating service -- and I believe it has been publishing the WBB HS player rankings since approximately 2007.

But, as a comparison, Purdue used to pull in players ranked in the top ten of Blue Star Report's and ASGR's respective rankings (Kelly Komara - 1998; Erica Valek - 2000; Cherrise Graham - 2000), as well as McDonald's All-Americans (Katie Gearlds - 2003; Erin Lawless - 2003).
*** Side note -- 2002 was the first year that a MCDAA game was held for girls HS basketball players.

As far as I can tell, in the 13 recruiting classes signed by Sharon Versyp, she has never had a McDonald's All-American player commit to her out of high school. The only MCDAA player who came into her program (not counting Gearlds and Lawless, whom she inherited) was Drey Mingo, who transferred from Maryland.

Versyp's best seasons (2006-07 and 2008-09, in which her teams made the Elite Eight both years) had the benefit of another coach's players in some part.

--- In the last 10 years, she has finished in the top three of the Big Ten once.
--- In the last 10 years, her teams have averaged 13 losses per season.
--- In the last five years, her teams have averaged 14.8 losses per season.
--- In 9 seasons as HC, Lin Dunn had a total of 68 losses (against 206 wins). In 7 seasons as HC, Kristy Curry had a total of 51 losses (against 179 wins). But in the last 4 years, Sharon Versyp has had 54 losses -- and 74 losses in the last 5 years.

The inability to sign elite talent (MCDAAs, top 25 players) -- or at least top 40/50 talent -- has led to a once-proud Purdue program and a contender on the national stage for the better part of 16 years before Versyp's arrival to mediocrity at best.

While Purdue returns its top five scorers from 2018-19, that team went 19-15 (8-10 in the Big Ten). I cannot see Versyp surviving another year, absent a top ten recruiting class nationally, a top-three Big Ten finish, and a Sweet 16 berth (or at least being given one of the top four seeds in a region).

One tough thing for Purdue, in regards to recruiting, is that in state prospect Skylar Diggins completely changed Muffet's program. Yes, she won a NC in 2001, but for a good ten years was really just a mediocre at best team. As a result, most of the best Indiana talent chose ND instead of Purdue. In the late 90's, early 2000's a lot of those top in state players went to Purdue. In addition, Louisville is probably poaching some of the areas that Louisville might've had success in too.

But Diggins impact at Notre Dame coincides with Versyp killing Purdue. Neither should be seen as taking place in a vacuum - Purdue's fall has helped ND as much as ND's rise has hurt Purdue. Maybe more.

Have to wonder, does the rise of Indiana under Teri Moren also factor in? She has Miss Indiana coming in this year and is getting nice traction with in-state recruits.

Meanwhile, Michigan and Michigan State have also recruited pretty well in Indiana more recently, so it seems there are several factors that have led to Purdue's demise. Losing committed recruits post Curry (ew) coaching change with Harris and TaShia Phillips to Xavier didn't help - Alex Bentley chose Penn State, I'm sure there are many more players that chose to go elsewhere.

As mentioned before, in the last decade, Louisville and Kentucky have also taken some Indiana talent south to their schools.

You all know better than I but it is interesting. Purdue used to have a lock on a lot of the talent in the region.